Page 8 of Hate You Most

“So,” she said, gliding backward now, eyes on Viktoriya. “Seriously, are you always this intense, or is it just an act during competitions?”

Viktoriya followed the American with her eyes. “I am always this intense, I am Russian.”

Dakota laughed. The sound echoed too loud in the empty rink. She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, sorry. I forgot that means you’re allergic to having fun.”

“I am allergic to losing,” Viktoriya replied, setting off toward the middle. The ice was smooth, not yet having been touched by a million blades.

Dakota stopped near the center circle and crouched down. “Race you!” she half-yelled.

“That is childish,” Viktoriya said.

Dakota ignored her and took off anyway.

Viktoriya chased after her without another word, legs burning as she cut the corner and caught up on the straightaway, passing Dakota by inches. Neither of them had warmed up properly.

“Hey!” Dakota’s voice echoed out. “That’s cheating!”

“Cheating?” Viktoriya shot back, slowing to a halt in front of Dakota. “You're the one just taking off without warning.”

“I haven’t even warmed up properly. You can’t count that!”

Viktoriya laughed, as Dakota breathed out harshly. “And yet, here I am, ahead of you.”

Dakota crossed her arms, skating circles around her own feet. “Luck. Pure luck. And maybe the ice is secretly on your side.”

“You underestimate precision,” Viktoriya said flatly.

Dakota shook her head, skating closer. “You take this too seriously. It’s supposed to be fun.”

“Is fun when you win, American,” Viktoriya replied, smirking just a fraction. “Everything else is just practice.”

Dakota rolled her eyes. “We’ll see who’s laughing next time, Russian.”

“Next time?” Viktoriya said and spun slightly to face her as they circled the rink. “I won gold tonight, or have you already forgotten?”

For a moment Dakota stayed silent, and Viktoriya took the moment to just look at her competition. Dakota was a few inches taller than her. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, complimenting her dark hair as her breath emerged in white clouds from between her lips. She was fascinating to look at.

“So, your parents must be proud of you for winning today,” Dakota said, clearly having noticed Viktoriya looking at her.

“Maybe,” she answered, fixing her gaze to the ice in front of her. “Is hard to tell sometimes, if they are happy with me or not.”

“Are you kidding me? You just won gold tonight, for Russia. Of course they are happy with you.”

Viktoriya didn’t answer, instead she let the silence stretch between them. Her jaw tightened.

“Happy?” she said slowly, after a moment. “If they cared, they’d be here. They didn’t even show up.”

“That…” Dakota slowed to a complete stop. “Sucks.”

“Is fine,” Viktoriya said quickly, stopping too. “I don’t need them.”

Dakota shook her head, her eyes softening. “I don’t know how you do it. I’d be miserable if my parents weren’t in the stands watching me.”

Viktoriya shrugged and kicked her skate lightly against the ice. “Discipline is enough. And winning. Nothing else matters.”

“Right.”

“I should go,” Viktoriya muttered and began moving toward the edge of the ice. She turned around before stepping off, facing Dakota again. Dakota's eyes were watching her closely.